The White Paper is the Government’s long-term security direction and capability enhancement framework for Defence. Within the context of the Government’s strategic objectives, it identifies the most important Defence priorities and establishes the primary priority as the defence of Australia.

In doing so, the White Paper provides guidance on those elements of capability required to meet the Government’s strategic objectives. It aligns the acquisition of new equipment and the future needs of the workforce with realistic interpretations of available resources and the challenges faced by Defence and industry in making the best use of science and technology.